Bayern Munich had to settle for a goalless draw away to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, leaving the door open for Hamburg SV to cut their lead to four points with a 1-0 win away to Duisburg.

Bayern struck the bar twice in the first half but were well below their best and had to be content with extending the last remaining unbeaten record in the league.

Hamburg SV took advantage as a Vincent Kompany goal eight minutes before the end of the first half proved enough to give them victory over Duisburg.

With 11 games played, Bayern lead the standings with 27 points, with Hamburg moving up to second on 23.

Werder Bremen, who drew 1-1 away to Schalke 04 on Saturday, are third on 21, with Karlsruhe fourth on 20 and Schalke fifth on 18.

The German Football Association (DFB) has extended the contracts of national coach Joachim Löw. Löw signed a contract dated until the end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The German football association will also continue to work with Löw’s assistant Hans-Dieter Flick, goalkeeper coach Andreas Köpcke and the Suisse-born head of scouts, Urs Siegenthaler.

The decisions was made public during the DFB Congress in Mainz, where Löw, who has led the team to a successfull qualification run for the Euro 2008, signed the new contract.

DFB president Dr. Theo Zwanziger is delighted to have tied up the contract so quickly: "I am very happy that we managed to extend contracts with Joachim Löw. I am looking forward to continue working with such qualified and successful coaches and their teams.

The extension of Löw’s contract is a clear signal that we are facing the challenge of both EURO 2008 and World Cup 2010 trusting completely in his philosophy. His work has had many positive impacts recently. I wish him luck and success with our national team, that is a walking advertisement for German football. And I am sure that I speak on behalf of millions of fans."

The Czech Republic made a mockery of Germany's unbeaten record in Euro 2008 qualifiers with a thumping 3-0 away win at Munich's Allianz Arena to seal their qualification.

Having already qualified for Euro 2008 thanks to last Saturday's 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland, Germany lost their place at the top of Group D to the Czechs, who needed a win to book their place at next summer's tournament.

The Czechs blitzed Germany's defence with all three goals coming from their midfield as coach Karel Brueckner's tactic of playing a 4-2-3-1 formation paid off. It made a mockery of double World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer's pre-match assertion that the current German team were the best and most consistent in the whole of Europe as they suffered their first defeat in 10 qualification games.

Germany have the best team in Europe and have improved considerably since the World Cup while Italy, France and England have fallen behind, former coach and captain Franz Beckenbauer said on Monday.

In an interview on the German Football Federation's website, Beckenbauer said coach Joachim Loew had done a great job since taking over from Juergen Klinsmann 15 months ago and said that they were among the favourites to win Euro 2008.

Unbeaten in their Euro 2008 qualifiers, Germany were the first team to earn a spot in the finals with a 0-0 draw against Ireland on Saturday.

'Germany are the best and most consistent team in Europe right now,' said the 62-year-old Beckenbauer ahead of Wednesday's match up against the Czech Republic in Munich. In the past, he was often among the team's most vocal critics, having previously called for Klinsmann's resignation prior to the 2006 World Cup.

'They've kept a high level since the World Cup and have even improved upon it. Other top teams like Italy, France or England have let up and are having a lot of problems even qualifying,' he said, adding he believed they would nevertheless qualify.

Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as West Germany captain in 1974 and coach in 1990, said he hoped Loew would extend his two-year contract soon.

Germany have won 12 of 15 matches under Loew with two draws and one defeat - in a friendly against Denmark.

'The team have taken a big step forward and they're ready to win the championship,' said Beckenbauer. 'It'd be good if he stays longer. At the moment there isn't anyone better than him with his system and his assistants.'

Germany became the first team to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals thanks to a 0-0 draw in their Group D match against Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.

The point was enough to secure the visitors their place with three games to spare.

Ireland's point will do little to improve their chances of qualifying, however. They are still five points behind the Czech Republic and eight short of table-toppers Germany who both have games in hand.

Germany had the edge in terms of possession but failed to capitalise against an Irish side that went into the second half fighting, chalking up several several shots on goal that often looked more threatening than those of their opponents.

Yellow cards for Lee Carsley and Richard Dunne mean they will both miss Wednesday's qualifier against Cyprus in Dublin while German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will also miss his side's next qualifier.

Coach Joachim Loew told Germany's ARD television: 'We're all delighted. We've completed the circle now. We beat Ireland in the first qualification match a year ago and now we've qualified for the Euro finals. Hats off to the team.'

He added: 'We've played well so far (in qualifying) but I don't think we're still among the very best in Europe. We've got to work hard to reach our goals at Euro 2008.

Captain Torsten Frings said: 'It was hard work but I think we can be proud that we've qualified so early, earlier than ever before.'

Defender Per Mertesacker said: 'We proved that we can close ranks when we're missing some key people. The way we fought for that point and kept them from scoring was a sight to behold.'

Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose is likely to miss Germany's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Ireland later this month because of a knee injury.

Bayern said on Tuesday that Klose would miss Thursday's UEFA Cup match against Belenenses and would probably need three weeks to recover completely.

'He's definitely out for Portugal and he'll almost certainly miss the Germany games too,' coach Ottmar Hitzfeld told the club's website.

Klose was the leading scorer in the World Cup in Germany 2006 and has a total of 35 goals in 70 internationals.

He is also the leading scorer in the Bundesliga so far this season with eight goals.

Germany are top of Group D with 22 points form eight games. The Czechs are second on 20 points from nine games, with Ireland a distant third on 14, also from nine.

Joachim Loew's side have the chance to secure a place at Euro 2008 when they face Ireland in Dublin on Oct. 13. They then host Czech Republic in Munich four days later.